This chapter's song is Black Magic by Savant.
Listener's POV
"Listener." Decimus greets me, and hands me a report about the newest recruits for the Black Hand, as well as world news and progress updates.
"So, the Spriggan Twelve believe that they can rebel? Let's get in there. Call in my Lieutenants."
"Listener, Noctus and Lucifer have requested to be taken off that list, at least for a while."
"Why?" I question my dear Brother.
"Noctus is pregnant, and the two made a decision they hope you will respect. They don't want to endanger their child." Decimus coughs awkwardly.
I smile and shake my head slightly. "Of course they may have that courtesy. We are a Family, this shouldn't even be a request. So Morrigan, at the very least, should accompany me, and I wish for Orion, Kurohebi, Nexus would be good, and one other person, I believe."
"Who?" Decimus questions, brushing his purple hair out of his eyes.
"I will take care of it. Would you kindly get everyone else together by, oh, say, six o'clock tomorrow evening. Give them dossiers about the mission and the Spriggan Twelve who are specifically rebelling, but also the others who might or have any inclination to the ones currently rebelling. I will show them who their God is."
"Aren't you concerned about Zeref stopping you?" Fukuro, just joining the conversation, adds. He stands protectively behind Decimus, one hand on his small boyfriend's shoulder.
"Oh, I forgot about him. I have to deal with that. I'll go ask Noctus where Zeref is. She should know." I stalk off, thinking about my growing to-do list.
Should be a fun day today, if busy.
"Noctus, Sister. How are you feeling?"
The pigtailed woman smiles at me, Lucifer standing protectively behind her. "I am fine, Listener. What did you wish to discuss?"
"Can you locate Zeref for me? Several of his Spriggan Shield are rebelling and I need to put a stop to both problems of a martyr and a rebellion of very powerful mages."
"Of course. Give me a moment." Noctus says, and Lucifer guides her to a chair, overprotective now that he knows about a child growing inside of her. Weird things occur in the realm without any interference from divine beings.
Her eyes roll back into her head as she pulls on her Death Magic, the type very similar to the one that Zeref uses. It should be sufficient to work with, at least to locate his general area. I'll have Racer sweep the area with Kessie and Ortelloth fine combing it. That should work nicely.
Noctus pulls back, Shadow Magic replacing the Death as it retreats into its cage inside of her.
"Zeref is near the town of Magnolia."
"Are you sure, Noctus?" I ask, surprised.
"Yes. Well, somewhat. I don't think he's with the Spriggan Twelve, but they and the congregation of people at Magnolia is blinding my Magical Death Touch. I can't be much of a help tracking him until the clusters disperse further. I am sorry, Listener." she looks disappointed, and Lucifer tightens his grip on her shoulder.
"It is perfectly all right. You have given me information that I did not have, and a place that Zeref might be. Oh, and if you don't want any hard contracts while you are with child, speak with me about it. I'm more than happy to oblige, as long as I get to play with the newest edition of the Family." I smile warmly.
Noctus and Lucifer relax a bit, and smile back, chuckling. "It will be the first priority."
"Always. Walk in the Shadow of Sithis."
"As you should." they bid goodbye, and the contact lacrima goes black, disconnecting completely.
I sit back in my chair and huff a little. While it is true that I did not know about the magical congregation of wizards in Magnolia, it is a bit disappointing that Noctus could not locate the heathen of Death Magic, immortal and unaging. How dare he even roam the realm.
It will be soon fixed.
I would love to take down the Spriggan Twelve who are rebelling right away, but first I must initiate Meredy.
I walk down the steps to the place she is held, next to the reporter, but I don't need her right now. In my hand is a ceremonial Dragon Priest dagger. The metal, cool in my grasp, is familiar and will do as I ask with no twinge of regret. Some blades hate to shed blood.
The door to her cell is opened by one of my guards, and he closes it promptly behind me. Meredy is lying in the corner, unconscious. This makes things easier.
Unholy Vorpal Philter does give me remote control over those injected, but it does not directly tie them to my will. This ritual covers that loophole.
I slash the middle of my palm, removing my long red glove before doing the deed. I like this pair, no need to ruin them.
I lay my travelling bag on the floor, and approach the unconscious girl, laying my glove with the bag on the floor. On second thought, I throw my other glove over there with it. They might be blood red, but, again, I like them. Smelling blood all day on them wouldn't be good for me or my entourage.
Meredy seems unaware of my presence, although she wouldn't do much about it if she was. Unholy Vorpal Philter has a tendency to make people bend to my will.
The last of the last things I want today is for this to be difficult.
I wake the girl by running the blade up her arm, making a small line in her skin. Her blood slowly oozes out of it at a slow pace, but she's awake enough to realize something's going on. She starts, but sees it's me. The shadow of what was once Meredy obeys my command to sit up, allowing me access to her other side to draw the line there as well.
"Listener. Remember that name." I hiss at Meredy, and she repeats it.
"Listener. Listener. Listener. Listener." she murmurs under her breath, a mantra. Her eyes are closed, and her movements against me start to cease.
"You will obey me."
"I will obey you. I will obey you. I will obey you. I will obey you." she says, instead of my title.
"You will protect me with you life."
"I will protect you with my life." she repeats it three more times, her voice breathy and her eyes, now open, unfocused.
I pull her up from the bed, walking her to the center of the room, and she stands still as I gather something from my bag. It's a Star Fang, similar to the one Noctus used in a quill earlier against, Jenny, I believe.
I start to draw lines along her body, binding Meredy to my will so that she will follow none but mine, doing exactly as I ask in any way that she can achieve it. I imagine if this raid goes successfully, I will have a couple more playthings and will have to enact this ritual several times. Nothing I'm averse to, naturally. I like knowing the strength and integrity of my forces. Good grounds for standing up to people.
On her body, I have to rip some of her clothes so that I can have access to her skin. In the newly exposed flesh, I write my names into her magic, her life force, her energy, even her very soul. The Star Fang channels the magic needed, and I take care not to override any of Meredy's needed functions, such as breathing, heart rate, et cetera. Through the link, I can feel when she requires sleep, sustenance, everything her body truly needs.
By the time I have finished writing the last slash for the Rotmulaag of my first and possibly most dangerous of titles, she is mine. Bound to my will and my title and my name.
The last thing I write on her, across the collarbone, actually making a mark in her skin, is her new name.
"You are not Meredy." I speak, halting before I write it.
"I am not Meredy. I am not Meredy. I am not Meredy. I am not Meredy." she whispers.
"You are now Synapsicodia Mneme, bound to me, and only me. You serve me and my purposes alone."
"I am Synapsicodia Mneme and I serve your will and your will alone." she parrots, four times total.
"You are iron. You are stone. You are the ultimate defense against everything and everyone." I whisper in her ear, done writing her new name across her collarbone. It flashes red as she confirms my statement, the normal four times.
"You. Are. Mine."
"I am yours." she whispers, once only.
"The ritual is complete." I state, and the newly christened Synapsicodia Mneme looks up at me expectantly.
"We are going to go teach some people a lesson. Several, if we have to. Come along." I speak, stowing away the dagger and the Star Fang in an alcove here. It's not really in danger of being stolen. Everyone put in here is under the influence of Unholy Vorpal Philter.
Mneme obediently follows me, and I smirk as I pull on my gloves and sling my bag over my shoulder. "But first, let's get you an outfit."
Synapsicodia stands tall, her right hand on her hip, hidden by her sleeve. Her pink hair, slowly transforming from the bright pink it was into a magenta, is in twin pigtails high on her head, several of her bangs escaping and falling to the side of her face. Her eyes pop out from her pale face, black outlining them, her lips agreeing with the premise as well.
A small coat, lace around the edges, binds together at her throat, hiding her name, and the velvet is blood red, marking her as my personal escort. A corset lies underneath her top, barely visible by the straps, and covered fully by her shirt, red predominantly with a black fold in the chest area. Her sleeves extend well beyond her hand, the extra material beautiful. A skirt of red with a black belt, ending at her mid thigh, completes the look with a flourish, and her black boots spell out her danger to everyone she might meet. Of course, she's with me, so if anyone is the dangerous one, it is most certainly not her.
"Well, Synapsicodia, are you ready to go?"
Her thin lips curl into a smile, and I return it, my own outfit not changed from when I entered her cell and performed the ceremony.
I lead her across the palace, and we are almost to the outside when, I swear, by Sithis, Bickslow drops in out of nowhere.
"Going somewhere, Listener?" he questions, his babies, out to play again, repeat the phrase fully while stabilizing him before he lands smack on his face on the floor.
"I am." I answer, holding back a growl. I have things to do, hope to destroy.
"May I accompany?"
"No. This would not be good for you." I stand my ground. I can't really think of any actual concrete reason as to why I don't want him to go, other than the fact that he might not like what I'll be doing there.
"Then why are you going?" he asks, stepping onto the ground.
I sigh internally. This is ridiculous. "Because I need to."
"You aren't being very specific. So, I think you have two choices." he elaborates after pausing for a few seconds, to make sure I won't interrupt. "They are that you can take me along with you, to whatever it is you're doing, or you can not go at all, because if you are going out of this place, you can be damn well sure that I'll be coming along for the ride."
My emotions, buried in me, are fighting to the surface of my self, and I do not like it. "This matter does not concern you in the slightest."
"If it happens and it catches your eye, then, yes. The matter concerns me greatly." he quips back quixotically.
I grind my teeth together, weighing my options. I can tell him the truth, and he can probably send everyone gathered away with the warning that I'm coming to break up their little gang, or I can not go and let a possible rebellion shake the country.
"Fine." I hiss out. "But you will not endanger your life or get in my way."
"What if fulfilling the first objective somehow erases the second?" he teases, amused. His tongue is lolling out, and the tell tale signs of the erasure of the guild mark are setting in.
I sigh, and shoulder my bag. "You will forever ask me that question when I worry for your safety, will you not. Your priority is in keeping yourself safe always. Now let us move. We have a train to catch."
Synapsicodia follows behind me at my heels, graceful and cute as a button, while I snap out my sunglasses, black of course, from the bag hanging loosely on a strap around my frame. Sunlight is bothersome. But not nearly so much as a Mate.
The train ride is uneventful, thankfully, and there is still daylight as we step off it into the streets of Magnolia. Black ankle boots and black stockings to my mid thigh cover my legs, while a shorter skirt with a red main part and black fringe on the bottom leaves only the barest trace of skin uncovered on my legs. A black belt keeps it together. My top is sleeveless, sheer black in a tank top style covering, holding it up, with red the rest of the way down. Unfortunately, I didn't remember that this goes with a specific item, and, as a result, some of my navel is exposed as well to the dreaded sun. A black choker collar as well as silver stud earrings, black sunglasses, and a black bag hanging on my shoulder complete the outfit. I check my hair lightly, up in a bun on the back of my head, while bringing down my sunglasses to see clearly in the daylight.
Synapsicodia hasn't changed clothes, and walks about, almost running into people, but not quite. She's taking in the majesty of the town as if she's a newborn.
Bickslow is wearing dark jeans with his signature curved at the tip boots, his hair flowing slightly in the wind, and a purple vest, open enough to show off his chest. White covers the edges of the garment, and his visor flashes in the sun, white and pale blue, hooking behind his ears and attached by a chain.
We're not very inconspicuous. Well, for the task ahead, anyway.
The mages gather at the ruins of the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, shuffling awkwardly in the ashes of the former number one guild in Fiore.
"We have to do something about Listener."
Bickslow perks up, realizing what we're doing. Eavesdropping isn't very easy if someone who has problems with the act is with you. Case in point, he opens his mouth to say something. I shake my head at him and smile.
He clamps his jaw shut and continues walking with us, Synapsicodia looking around like a tourist still. Once we're out of sight of the guild hall, I sit down at a cafe table, it being almost dinner time. It's nearby to the still-smoking remains of the guild. Not very good for hearing, but great for espionage. Just tourists.
Of course, not very inconspicuous tourists.
I sip an espresso brought to me by a waiter, courtesy of Bickslow knowing when I want caffeine, as I listen.
My eyes glow slightly under my sunglasses as I enhance my hearing, something difficult for me to do. I am not adept at Sound Magic.
"What can we possibly do, Laxus? We've tried to take her on; we're fifteen years stronger and it's gotten us nothing. Nothing but death and destruction." Sting points out. Ah, pessimism. My old friend.
"We have to try!"
"Wendy…." is that? Yes, I believe that's Lucy speaking. "... we already know that she's too powerful. It would take all of our guilds, at full strength, to even hurt her. We don't have half the power now."
Well, not true, as I'm not very good at handling multiple hostile spells, but, essentially, yes. I am too powerful for the guilds, even when they were all whole, to be taken down.
"...What if we used Lumen Histoire?" Laxus adds.
"Laxus….. I don't think that that could even do anything." his Mate says, defeated in spirit.
"We have to try."
"Laxus is right." Jenny adds, Eve standing with her. Soon, Kagura, Arana, and Millianna join them. After a few moments, everyone is on their feet.
"Together, we have to take a stand."
Laxus holds out a hand to Lucy, gentleness reverberating through his words. "Hey. We'll get through it. We've handled everything else, haven't we?"
I can practically feel the optimism from here. I growl and sever the spell. What can I possibly do to discourage them? Brand them as terrorists? Kill them all? Torture them?
I doubt that Bickslow would be happy with any of those options.
I almost snort into my espresso when I realize that, once again, my feelings are derailing my possible movements.
By Sithis, why must I have a Mate so ethically driven and persevering?
I don't do anything, surprisingly enough, and merely eat my meal as the other two in our trio watch me carefully. Mneme, because we are connected, and Bickslow, because we are, surprise, connected. Slightly different ways, though. Will to soul. Bent to unmoving.
Little things like that.
"The ship sails in a hour." I announce to our small group, my voice barely above a whisper. That... meeting between guilds is… affecting me more than I would like. Mostly because of the tenderness that is evident in glaring amounts within the bond between Lucy and Laxus. How?
I muse for several moments before breaking off the chain of thought before it could hurt me more. No need to break in front of people. A leader is strong, loyal, and above all, unbreakable.
Nightshade's POV
I panic slightly as I reach out and feel for the dagger, usually on my bedside table, and don't touch it. My breathing elevates until I find it, the smooth, elven blade, forged by my Mother, a comfort, such a comfort, that if I didn't have it, I think I would die.
then again if i did die who would care who would know certainly not him with his words and his ways and his unfamiliarity and his idiocy and all of his problems why is he here why does my mommy allow him to stay why does she not stab him and stab him until he cant move for the blood seeping into his body and seeping out and his magic is desperately trying to keep him alive but it cant it cant it cant because its too weak its too weak
hes too weak
With a small, lyrical laugh, I guide the blade across my flesh, grazing my skin, not nearly enough to break it. I feel the temptation eating at me to drive it, deep, deep, deep, into my flesh, and let it stay there until I can move it into the other arm. I would be bleeding and bleeding and there would be oh so much blood.
hes on his knees bowing before me and i raise the knife and drive it down and out spurts the blood and oh sithis its everywhere itll never come out of the carpet at this rate but mommy laughs and hugs me and were both dripping in blood, in his blood, and its fine and were together and she rocks me to sleep with her lullaby and i sigh and snuggle in and were a happy family again since
hes gone
its just us and its just us and were fine as they seal us away in our tomb and were fine because who needs to live when you have family and wed have that so itd be fine and id be fine in mommys arms and thered be no need to live forever if we were together in death and the monster is dead
i will make him fall
203- Don't panic. It's just a blood ritual. No sacrifices.
204- The foremost testing stages actually went horribly, horribly wrong. Eventually, I found a balance between my will and theirs, but the first few test subjects….. they either had too much willpower of their own, or they had too little. Did you know that you need willpower to breath?
205- Everything else, besides one, was written on her soul, mind, magic, or general spirit. The other that wasn't was Dovahkiin, carved into her back. It's still bleeding.
206- I discourage people, strongly, from wearing black and red until they have earned that right. Any other color combination is acceptable. Just not those two.
207- I like seeing that. But, really, a guild mark stamp on any part of the body that isn't a tongue is liable to last for a long time, even a couple of years. But one on a tongue? Oh yeah. Renew that constantly. 3-6 months.
208- Hopefully he gets the message here. If you value not being in pain, you will shut up. I can't really kill him, but who is to say what I won't do elsewise?
209- I don't know how, but….. it is.